Being a sports fan over the decades has involved two things: either spending money to buy a ticket in the stadium or sitting on the couch in front of a cable box. You were fortunate and hit the game. Otherwise, you would have waited until the evening news to see you. Nowadays, we do not live in a binary world. Technology has broken the old viewing experience and reformed it as something more immersive, more available and more customizable than ever before. We have ceased being observers, and are now active contributors in a digital ecosystem that places the game in our hands.
The most obvious shift has been the shift in linear television to digital streaming. Consumers no longer have to be bound to a television screen or a strict timetable of broadcasting. It is now possible to watch live sports on a smartphone while commuting, tablets in a coffee shop or multiple monitors at a desk. It is with this flexibility that the fan has been emancipated, which has made the landscape fragmented. Now that there are different games on different apps and services with different exclusivity, it is difficult to keep track of the kickoff time. The key to maneuvering in this new landscape has been made possible by tools such as livesportsontv.com and this way bets that the fans get to know which platform to open at all times to ensure they are not left out of the sights of the action.
The concepts of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) are putting a completely new spin on the game. You do not need a season ticket to be in courtside of an NBA game or behind the net of a soccer match. VR headsets have the potential to take you to the stadium many thousand miles away and provide 360-degree view that makes you feel like you are physically present. In the meantime, AR is improving the classic screen with a real-time stat, player name, or heat maps being displayed over the field of play. This stratum of digital information is giving background that was once the prerogative of broadcasting and making all fans analysts.
The AI (Artificial Intelligence) is slowly building a sports show that is uniquely designed to your preferences. Rather than tuning into a generic broadcast, AI algorithms have the ability to create real-time highlight reels on favorite players or teams. In case you are only interested in three-point shots or defensive tackles, intelligent platforms can offer you a condensed version of the game that only concentrates on these aspects. It is as personalized as possible, and that means you do not have to waste much of your time on the content that you are not interested in, but rather you are able to watch the plays that are important to you.
The second screen experience (or using a phone or a tablet during the main event) has become not what it used to be a distraction, but a companion. Social media have caused fans to be continuously linked to a community that extends globally, having real-time debates and polls. Betting apps have also been incorporated into this flow, with viewers having the option of micro-beting such things as whether the next pitch or penalty kick will be successful or not. Such interactivity ensures that the interest levels remain high even through commercial breaks and time outs and the viewing experience is a two-way conversation.
With technology, sports viewing is not a passive experience anymore, it has become a multi-sensory experience. With the further development of innovations such as VR, AI, and streaming, the physical stadium and the virtual screen are not going to separate even more. The ideal seat in the house is no longer in the best place; it is the spot where the modern fan is found.
